Web-feeding mechanism



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. o. GROWELL.

WEB FEEDING MECHANISM.

Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

N PETERS. PholoLilhognphcr, Wnahmglcvl. n.0,

(No Model.) 5 sheets-sheet 2.

' L; G. OROWELL.

WEB FEEDING MEGHANISM.

No. 396,470. Patented Jan. 22, 1889.

n. Patna momm w. Washington- .0.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

L. C. ,GROWELL. WEB PEEIDINGJMEGHANISM.

No. 396,470. Patented Jan. 22, 1 889.

(No Model. :5 SheetsSheet 4..

LC. GROWELL. v WEB FEEDING MECHANISM.

' Patented Jan. 22, 1889*;

4 lllll Hlliilil iliiiillill 27 2a 2 as 27 NITED STATES LUTHER C.OROXVELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WEB-FEEDING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 396,470, dated January22, 1889.

Application filed December 9, 1887. Serial No. 25 7.459. (No model.)

To all 2072/0712 it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. CROWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Impro vements in \VebFecding Mechanism,fully described and represented in the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to a web-feeding mechanism which is designed foruse in connection with a web-printing or printing and deliverymechanis1n,it being the object of the invention to provide a mechanismfor this purpose which shall operate to maintain a uniform and propertension upon the web at all points in its passage through the machine.

In this class of machinesitis of course necessary to provide atdifferent points in the machine positively-driven feeding-rolls,whichact upon the web to advance it while it is operated upon by the variousmechanisms and before it is severed into sheets. If these feeding-rollsare arranged to have the same surface speed as the printingcylinders, itbecomes impossible to maintain the web at the proper tension during allparts of the travel, not only because it is impossible in threading upthe machine to introduce the web so that it will be under a uniform andproper tension, but also because the web, even it introduced at theproper tension, would gradually tend to become slack. To overcome thisdifficulty and to maintain the web at the proper tension, it has beencustomary to drive the feed ing-rolls which operate to advance the webafter it leaves the printing-cylinders, and in certain classes ofmachines the roll or rolls which advance the web between the printing ofits opposite sides, at a slightly greater surface speed than theprinting-cylinders, so that there is a constant tendency to acceleratethe feed of the web, and thus take up any slack and maintain the propertension. It will readily be seen that if the feed-rolls thus acceleratedwere caused to nip with a positive and unyielding bite upon the web theywould gradually increase the tension until the web would become broken,and to avoid this it has been customary to so adjust the feeding-rollsthat they will nip upon the web sufficiently to take up any slack andput it under the proper tension, and yet slip upon the Web before thetension is increased to the breakingpoint. To secure this operation ofthe feeding-rolls it was necessary that the speed of the rolls, and inthose cases where the rolls nipped upon the web the biting-contact,should be adjusted with very great nicety, which Was exceedinglydifficult in practice, and in addition to this the slipping of therolls, which were frequently milled or fluted, upon the web tended tospread the ink of the freshly-printed matter, and thus damage theproduct. This manner of operating the rolls to produce and maintain thedesired tension was also objectionable for other reasons.

The improvements constituting the present invention are designed toovercome these objections, and to that end the feeding-rolls are, as inthe former constructions, accelerated to a surface speed greater thanthe surface speed. of the printing-cylinders; but, unlike the formerorganizations, these rolls are adjusted to bit-e firmly upon the web andadvance it positively without slipping upon it. These rolls, however,instead of being driven positively from the prime mover, (i. a, theprinting-cylinders or some other moving part of the' machine,) as in theformer constructions, are connected to said prime mover through themedium of a friction-clutch mechanism which is so adjusted as to drivethe feeding rolls with sufficient power to put the web under the properdegree of tension, but to slip and permit the rolls to be retardedbefore the web is subjected to breaking strain. By this means the web isalways maintained at the proper tension and the feeding-rolls areprevented from slipping upon the web, thus avoiding the smutting of theweb by spreading the ink and the difficulty of securing the niceadjustment of the rolls which is necessary when they slip upon the web,and at the same time a more accurate feed of the web is obtained. Theadjustment of the frictionclutch mechanism to secure the proper tensionis a comparatively easy and simple matter.

A full understanding of the invention and the manner of applying thesame can be best given by a description of the same in connection with aweb printing and delivery mechanism. All further preliminary descriptionwill therefore be omitted and a detailed description given, referencebeing had. .to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is adiagrammatic sectional elevation of the principal parts of an ordinaryform of web printing and delivery mechanism, showing the improvementsconstituting the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is anelevation of a part of the delivery mechanism, looking from thedirection of the arrow a. Fig. a similar view of the same part of thedelivery mechanism, lookin from. the direction of the arrow 1). Fig. 4cis an enlarged section taken on the line i of Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 5 is aplan view of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. (3 is, an enlarged sectiontaken on the line 6 of Fig. Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 are-views of the partsof the frictionelutch mechanism. Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are viewsillustrating a modified form of the clutch mechanism Fig. 12 being asection on the line 12 of Fig. 13, and Fig. 13 a section on the line 13of Fig. 12.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it is to be understood thatthe printing mechanism therein partly illustrated is of an ordinaryform, consisting of form-cylinders A, iinpression-cylinders B, andordinary inking mechanisms, represented by the rolls and cylinders 0. Asillustrated, the printing-cylinders are capacitated to carry three f rmsabreast. The web D is led from a roll, and after being perfected in theusual manner by the cylinders A B passes into the control of tapes 2 34, by which it is conveyed to the delivery mechanism. In case afull-width web is used, it will be acted on by a slitter, 20, so as tobe divided into two sections or narrow webs before it arrives at thedelivery mechanism. This mechanism in the case illustrated consists of aweb turning and associating mechanism composed of two turning bars, 30,a longitudinal folder, E, a transverse cutting, folding, and associatingmechanism composed of the cylinders +25 16 and their auxiliaries, and asheet-piling mechanism. (Not shown.)

The tapes 2 3 a are arranged as follows: The tapes 2 pass around a roll,5, located adjacent to the impression-cylinder l3, thence around a roll,6, over rolls '7 and 17, and around stretching-pulleys 8, returningaround pulleys 9. The tapes 3 pass around a roll, 10,10- cated below theroll 5, and thence beneath the roll 6. From the roll 6 the marginaltapes of the series pass around a roll, 11, and return aroundstretching-pulleys 12, while the central tapes of the series pass withthe tapes 2 above the roll 7, thence around a roll, 13, and return overthe stretching-pulleys 16 12, passing through the space between the twoparts of the roll 11. The tapes 4, which cooperate with the two marginaltapes of the series 2, pass around the roll 7, thence over the roll 13,and between a pair of feed-rolls, 14, returning around one of theserolls and the pulleys 1.6. The longitudinal folder E is of substantiallythe construction shown and described in my prior Letters Patent No.$31,280, it being provided with external turners, 1S, and a pair offold-laying rolls, 19.

The cylinders 4:5 46, which constitute the transverse cutting, folding,and associating mechanism, may be equipped substantially the same asdescribed in my former Letters Patent No. 317,749, or as described in mypending applications filed on the 9th and 10th days of November, 1887,Nos. 254:,669 and 254,765. The sh eet-piling mechanism maybe of anyapproved for1n+sueh, for example, as shown in my prior Letters Patent,No. 269,021 or No. 281,754. 7

The operation of the printing and delivery mechanism is as follows:lVhen it is desired to produce a product consisting of afull sheet orsheetssuch, for example, as a four or eight. page papera web oftwo-thirds width will be used, which web after being printed will passinto the control of the tapes 2 3 i and be conveyed over the roll 17 andthence downward over the folder E, where it will be folded longitudinally, after which it will pass between the rolls 19 and into the controlof the cylinders 45 to, where it will be severed into sheets, and thesheets will be folded or associated and folded and delivered in theusual manner.

If it is desired to produce a product consisting of one or more fullsheets and one or more half-sheetssueh, for example, as a six or twelvepage papera web of full width will be used, which after being printedwill pass into the control of the tapes 2 3, and as it passes the rollI; will be split by the slitter 20. The narrow section (Z thus split offwill be led around the turners 30, thereby being transferred laterallyto the opposite side of the machine, after which it will be associatedwith the main portion of the web and pass forward between the tapes 2 4to the roll 13, at which point it will leave the main portion of the weband pass between the rolls l-it and be reassociated with the mainportion of the web as the two arrive at the longitudinal folder E, sothat as the main portion of the web is fold ed longitudinally the narrowportion d will be inset within the main portion. The operation will thenbe the same as first described.

To secure the proper register between the printed pages upon the twoportions of the web, the turners 230 are made adjustable, so as to varythe travel of the portion (1 of the web between the roll (1 and thelongitudinalfolder. For this purpose the turners 30 are mounted rigidlyupon a shaft, 31., which is supported in bearings 32, which slide inways formed in the side frame of the machine. These bearings 32 areprovided with racks, which are engaged by pinions 33, mounted upon ashaft, 3-1, which is operated by a hand-wheel, 35, so as to shift theposition of the turners to effect the proper register of the webs, asbefore stated. The turners 30 are retained in any position to which theyare adjusted by a setscrew, pawl, or any usual retaining device.

In order to maintain the webs at the proper tension during their passagefrom the printing-cylinders to the transverse cutting mechanism, it isnecessary to provide feeding-rolls at one or more points, and inpractice it is found that it is most desirable to locate thesefeeding-rolls so that they will act upon the web immediately after itpasses over or around any stationary surface where it is subjected tofrict-ionas, for example, a web turner or turn ers or a longitudinalfolder-as the friction produced in moving the wcbovcr such stationarysurface tends to retard it, and thereby produce slack which it isnecessary to take up or compensate for. The position of such feed-rollswill therefore vary the character and organization of the deliverymechanism varies. The delivery mechanism which is herein illustratedwill, however, serve to illustrate the principle of the invention andthe mode of applying it to all classes of printing and deliverymechanisms.

For the purpose of maintaining the tension of the web, as before stated,the rolls 14.,which act upon the narrow or supplement portion d of theweb after it passes the turners 30, and the rolls 19, which act upon themain portion of the web or the main and supplement portions of the web,as the case may be, after it or they pass the longitudinal folder, aredriven so as to feed the webs. For this purpose the rolls 19 areconnected by gears 21, and are driven through a gear, 22, upon the shaftof one of the rolls which communicates through an intermediate, 23, witha gear, 24, upon the shaft of the cylimlerifi, the cylinder 4.6 being inturn driven from a driving-shaft through a shaft, 26, and gearing 25.

The gearing which transmits motion to the feed-rolls 19 is soproportioned that the surface speed of the feed-rolls is acceleratedconsiderably above the surface speed of theprinting-cylinders. In orderto prevent this accelerated movement of the rolls 1.9 from breaking theweb, there is provided between the prime mover and the rolls afriction-clutch mechanism which permits the rolls to be retarded belowtheir normal speed as soon as the web is subjected to the propertension, This clutch mechanism maybe located atany convenient point inthe train of connections; but will preferably be, as herein shown,located between gears 21 22. This clutch mechanism may be of a varietyof forms; but two forms which are suitable for the purpose are hereinillustrated.

In the form shown in Figs. at to 10 the gear 22 is loosely mounted uponthe shaft of the roll 19, while the gear 21. is fixed upon the shaft ofthat roll. The gear 22 provided upon its face with a disk, 27, upon theface of which are formed two lugs, 28, one of which is provided with anopening, which receives a stud projecting from the end of a spring, 29,

while the other is provided with a set-screw, 36, which acts upon theopposite end of said spring. This spring 29 lies inside of and ispressed into frictional contact with a flange, 37, extending from adisk, 38, which is secured to the face of the gear 21. From thisarrangement it will be seen that the rolls 19 are not driven positively,but are only driven through the friction of the sprin 29 upon the flange37, and that whenever the tension of the web passing between the rollsbecomes sufficient to overcome the friction between the spring 29 andthe flange 37 the rolls 19 will cease to act; and it will also be seenthat by operating the screw 36 the friction between the spring 29 andthe'flange 37 can be readily increased or diminished to put the webunder any desired tension.

The rolls H, which act upon the narrow or supplement portion (Z of theweb, are connected by gears 39, and are driven through a gear, 40, uponthe shaft of one of the rolls which engages with a gear, 4-1, upon theshaft of the roll 17, which shaft is in turn driven through a shaft, 42,and gearing 43 from the printing-cylinders. This gearing, the same asthe gearing through which the rolls 19 are driven, is so proportioned asto give the rolls 14: a surface speed greater than that of theprinting-cylinders; but these rolls are provided with a friction-clutchmechanism, as i11- dicated at (0, similar to that already described inconnection with the rolls 19, and which 0perates in exactly the samemanner to permit the rolls to maintain the web 01 at the proper tension.

Figs. 11 to 13 illustrate another form of clutch mechanism, which may beused in place of that already described. As illustrated in thesefigures, the gear 22, which is loose upon the shaft of the roll 19, ismade to form a flange, 37, while the spring 29 is made in two parts, andis supported upon lugs 44, projecting from the face of the gear 21,which is fast to the shaft of the roll.

Pivoted to the inner sides of the two parts of the spring 29 are a pairof toggle-levers, 47, which are acted on by arms 48, which projectthrough openings in the web of the gear 21, and are secured to a disk,49, which is loosely mounted 011 the shaft of the roll 19 outside of thegear 21. The bearing of the shaft of the roll 19 is provided with aninward extension, 50, which is screw-threaded, and upon which works anut, 51, which abuts against the disk 49, so as to move the arms -18inward and thereby str'aigl'iten the toggle-levers and press the springs29 against the flange 37, and thus create friction between the fiangeand the spring to transmit the motion of the gear 21 to the gear 22 andthe rolls. The arms 48 are moved in the opposite direction by a spring,The nut 51 is provided around its edge with a series of recesses, whichreceive a pawl located on a stud, 53, which operates to lock the nut inany position to which it is adjusted. This construction will in somecases be preferable IIO to that first described, because it permits theclutch to be adjusted to vary the tension of the web while the machineis in operation, whereas in the construction first described suchadjustment can only be eltected when the machine is at rest.

What I claim is ll. The combination, with a web-printing mechanism and aweb-severing mechanism, of a longitiulinal folding mechanism, anaccelerated feed-roll ['or the web, and a frictimiclutch forcommunicating" the motion to said roll, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a wel )rinting mechanism and a web-severingmechanism, of a web-turning mechanism, an accelerated Feed-roll for theweb, and a liriction-cluteh for communicating the motion to said roll,substantially as described.

The combination, with a web-printing mechanism and a welyseveringmechanism, of an accelerated feedroll for the web and a friction-clutchfor communicating the motion to said roll, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a web-printing LF'IIIER (J. (ROWELL \Vitnesses:

T. H. PALMER, J. J. KENNEDY.

